Munga Honorable’s attorney shuts down new arrest rumours

Attorney for dancehall artiste Munga Honorable, Christopher Townsend, is shutting down rumours that his client has been charged with assault and illegal possession of firearm.

This after a news report headline cited a man, who goes by the alias 'Munga', being arrested last Friday for a shooting incident that took place last September. Munga Honorable's given name is Damian Rhoden, however, the individual being referred to in that matter was identified as Derron Shand. Townsend said that his client "is a law-abiding citizen".

"The man that has been arrested is not Mr Damian Rhoden, it is somebody else," Townsend told THE STAR, opining that the headline could have caused "serious danger to people's careers".

"They could have carried the headline in another way. Mr Honorable is an honourable man who doesn't engage in those kind of things," he said.

However, Munga Honorable has been charged in connection with the 2017 murder of Cleveland Smith who was shot dead along Molynes Road, Kingston 2. Townsend said the current rumours will have to be clarified when they return to court.

"Of course he will have to explain that it is not him because being arrested while you're on bail may cause revocation," he said. "Luckily, in this instance, it won't, but certainly the rumours flying around like that is not good and, of course, it jeopardises his engagement overseas and locally."

The entertainer is currently promoting his birthday party which is slated to take place on June 11 at Pagee Beach in St Mary, featuring peers like Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Aidonia and Charly Black.

Townsend said they were able to move quickly to rubbish the speculations, adding that a press release will be issued today to address the matter. Regarding the singjay's own court matter, the trial is set for 2023.

"It's still in the case management phase. A trial date is set for 2023 and they're managing the case towards 2023 to ensure that when it gets to trial, the matter is tried and there'll be no further delays," said Townsend. Munga Honorable was granted bail in June 2017 in the sum of $500,000.

The police report that Smith, who was the nephew of dancehall artiste Mr Vegas, was accosted by a group of men, one reportedly armed with a gun, at a dance in Ackee Walk, St Andrew. An altercation ensued between them resulting in Smith being shot and later pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital.